Myra’s Big Mistake – Chapter 16

I need a little time to think and consider how I’m going to fix this mess I’m in, but I can’t take too long. I have a few hours, tops, to make this right.

Back at home, Mochi is waiting for me on the front stoop, so we both head inside together.

“Is everything all right?” he asks, swirling around my feet.

“Everything is great, actually.” We bound up the steps, two at a time, and I’m glad that most of my neighbors are gone in the middle of the day because I sure am loud.

My apartment is an absolute mess. I gather the sandy sheets, my dirty clothes, and kitchen linens, and take them to the laundry room one floor up. Once those are in the wash, I clean the kitchen, all the dishes, dump old food from my fridge, and take out the trash.

I think better when my place is clean, and I have a lot of thinking to do.

For the first time in my life, I agree with my father. This town doesn’t need another casino. We have three already, though Nosuké’s is definitely the largest. And he admitted to me that he would rather not deal with another casino. He’d rather manage more restaurants. So, there has to be something here, some kind of in-between place for Dad and Nosuké to come together. A giant area of restaurants is an idea I like. But maybe this place shouldn’t center on food. It could also be fun with games and concerts and stuff.

Hmmm, I don’t know. I’m missing a part of this idea. It’s somewhere.

I actually look around my apartment like the missing idea is an object I have and just don’t know it. Time is running out, so I need to concentrate. My shift at Izakaya Tanaka tonight starts at eight.

The best way for me to concentrate on my problems is to bake. Since I’m out of eggs, flour, and sugar (damn, I really need to go shopping), the second best way is for me to draw.

I sit down at my desk. Stacking up the last few illustrations on my right, I place a blank sheet of paper in front of me, load my pencil with a new graphite insert, and peer down at the empty white space. My eyes close, and the first thing I see is Ringo. Yeah, I’ve never drawn a raccoon before, but I think I can do it from memory.

I zone out while I draw ovals for Ringo’s face. Many of my life’s big mistakes happened because I was blind to what was really going on. I failed the entrance exam twice because I believed I wasn’t ready or capable of working for the Interstellar Agency. I didn’t become Mrs. Martin’s assistant because I felt I was a terrible baker. I didn’t let Daren take our relationship public because I was sure I was a loser.

And I pushed Nosuké away because I believed I wasn’t worth his effort.

I sniff up and tilt my head away from the paper, but one tear lands on the edge. I’m so hard on myself. Why? Why do I doubt myself? Why do I feel I’m worthless?

I’m not. Mrs. Tanaka said I was generous, supportive, and selfless. Those are all excellent qualities in a person.

I have to believe in myself.

Sketching in silence for a while, I’m lost in all the details of Ringo when Mochi leaps onto my lap. I startle and pull away from the drawing so he can get some loving. He lifts his paws onto my chest and rubs his head up under my chin. Very cat-like.

“I heard Ean when he was here.”

“You did?” I scratch behind his ears.

“He’s right. You need to believe in yourself, Myra.”

I smile down at him. “I was thinking the same thing.” I sigh. “It’s not easy, though. I haven’t believed in myself in ages.”

“Now is a good time to start.” He puts a paw on my cheek and gives me a little lick. “How will you reconnect with Nosuké?”

I drum the pencil on the desk. “I don’t know. I thought it would be good to have some kind of peace offering or something. I pushed him away, and I’ve been ignoring his messages. He’s bound to be pissed at me.”

“There you go, not believing in yourself. He could be worried about you.”

I nod at his insight. How did something so small and cute get so wise?

“You’re right. So, here’s what I’ve been thinking.” I explain my alternate idea to the casino, and Mochi listens raptly, his eyes focused on me the entire time. “What I need is inspiration… for something fun or unique. My idea is missing a key component.”

“Myra, you know what to do for inspiration. It’s what you always do!”

“Right. Great idea. Time to hit the GDB,” I say, grabbing my tablet.

The GDB is our large repository of information gathered from Earth after the Collapse and Exodus and new data from Orihimé. Pre-war Earth called it the Internet. The two systems are similar, but the GDB is much smaller, more protected, and better defined.

I call up my access and ask a simple question. I find simple, concise questions are best, and then I see what I see and narrow it down from there.

“What did people used to do on Earth for fun?”

The system loads a page full of data right away, but I always choose to view any images or videos. I scroll through pages and pages of cheerful people picnicking, hiking, surfing, playing games, drinking, etc. And then, my eyes catch on a happy family walking under a giant arch with a sign that says, “Tomorrowland.”

“What is this?” I breathe out, drilling down into the same location.

Mochi comes up next to me. He sort of understands what the tablet does and how it works, but the concepts it brings up are sometimes out of reach for him.

“What are these people doing?” he asks, tilting his head.

“I don’t know.” I watch a video of people playing a game, laughing, and clapping. Another video shows people in caged chairs going around a giant metal contraption, and they’re having fun. They’re having an absolute blast. As I observe people laugh, play, and eat, a smile grows across my lips. I dig deeper and find original maps of this place, and it was big. It could hold thousands of people, and it did at one point. Scouring the images for words I understand, I find one phrase that fits the bill.

“It’s a theme park.” I sit back and take a deep breath. “They were big on Earth before the wars.”

“We have nothing like this here,” Mochi says, sitting back and letting his tail puff up.

“No, we don’t. I was just thinking the other day that there are limited places for people to have fun. We’re at a loss for land unless it’s land that needs to be razed for… for something like a casino.”

I raise my eyebrows at Mochi.

“Myra, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I am.” Oh, this is perfect. I love this idea! My heart rate soars, and my chest flutters with giddiness.

I stand up and pace the room. Okay, okay. Don’t get too excited. Nosuké may hate this idea… But he can’t hate it if he’s never heard it. I need to tell him. Now.

I check the time for sunset, six o’clock. Perfect. That’s in two hours.

Forget about drawing. I’ve got something super important to do.

Opening my inbox, I take a deep breath and type out the invitation.

—-

I love the Space Park at sunset. If I’m working the lunch shift at Izakaya Tanaka, I can sometimes come by here in time to see the sun dip into the horizon out over the water. The star plaques glow in the deep orange light and cast long shadows across the ochre brick walkways.

“I see him, Myra! He’s here!” Mochi runs out from the bushes and approaches Ringo at the park’s entrance. The two chatter and run off together.

I catch sight of Nosuké before he sees me, so I smooth out my shirt and reposition myself on the bench. Oh shit, this stunning man wants to date me. Be cool, Myra. Don’t be awkward.

His eyes catch mine, and a smile comes up from my belly, through my heart, and onto my face like pure joy. I’m not sure when I’ve smiled like this before… or ever. But it’s reflected on his face immediately.

“Hey,” I say as he approaches my bench. I gesture to the seat next to me. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“I set my own hours, so I can be available for spontaneous park excursions.” He slides onto the bench, leaving room between us for the two cans of saké and bowl of nuts I’ve placed there. “I guess you weren’t kidding about space and saké in your invitation.”

“Nope.” I pop open the cans and hand him one. Raising my can, I say, “To new beginnings.”

He touches his can to mine, and we both drink. His fiery gaze is so hot it singes my skin.

“I’m so glad you messaged me. I was beginning to worry, especially after what happened at your parents’ house. I’m so sorry. Again. And I wasn’t pretending to like you. I like you and want to be with you.”

I smile at him, and the warmth of his gaze wraps around me. “I know.” I press my hand to my chest. “I feel the same way.”

“Good.”

I clear my throat. I can’t believe we said that to each other. Change the subject.

“The nuts are my own recipe.” I roll my eyes at myself. I told myself not to be awkward, yet I can’t help it.

“I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere.” He chuckles as he throws a few in his mouth and hums. “That’s good. Goes nicely with the saké.”

He sighs as he leans back and puts his arm over the rear of the bench. We both watch a family walk by, two men, an elderly woman, and two kids in a stroller, all together, happy and tired from the looks of their smiles and red-rimmed eyes.

“I haven’t been here in a while, over a year. I sometimes forget why we’re here, on this world, and what we have to do to survive. Some days, I only think of my work, the casino, the business, my employees.”

“As important as this work is, though, living is just as important.” I turn on the bench and tuck one leg up to face him. “I haven’t been living. I’ve been going through the motions for the last five years or longer. I say no to invites from handsome men. I go to work, and I come home. I could have said yes to you a hundred times over the last few years, but I didn’t because I didn’t believe there was anything else in my life for me.”

He inhales and sips his saké. “I understand you. I only hope these handsome men are just me.”

I laugh. “Yes, you’re the only one chasing me. Sorry I didn’t notice.” I sip my saké. “What will happen if the chase ends?” I look at the composite material of the bench and run my finger along a seam at the edge.

“Then the real fun begins.”

I blow out a long breath as I lift my eyes to his. We sip in silence for a moment.

“I have an idea for you,” I say, starting on the business of this meeting, “one I’m not sure you’ll like, but I think it’s exciting.”

“That’s an intriguing way to start a conversation.”

“I don’t know a lot about you yet.” I look away from his piercing gaze. “But I think you’re a man who understands that people need to let loose and have fun. That’s why you run the casinos and want to build more.”

He bobs his head from side to side. “Yes, that’s true.”

“My father likes to have fun too, believe it or not. He may have been an asshole to me —”

“Total asshole,” Nosuké interrupts.

“But he loves going to festivals and out to the movies and picnicking and traveling. I think he would love a theme park.” I say the words confidently. “A park with games and events and rides and amazing food and concerts and fireworks and…” I suck in a deep breath. “Someplace fun.”

“Fun,” Nosuké repeats, looking past me at the Space Park.

“Yeah, fun. And a theme park has a theme, you know. We could make it so it’s all about space and the colonization and our future.”

“A theme park.” He hums as he muses on this idea of mine. “So, no casino?”

I shake my head. “According to the figures I looked at, the theme park can be just as financially viable. But you’ll have to look at that yourself. Plus, you could actually do both and build a casino inside the park. We could also build more housing and hotels and… Well, the ideas are limitless.”

He moves the saké and nuts to the other side of him and slides across the bench to come right up against my hip. “We could do it.”

“Me?” I press my hand to my chest and shake my head. “No, no, no. I… I wouldn’t know where to start.”

He reaches towards me and slides his hands to my cheeks. “You need to believe in yourself like I do. Like I have for years. You would have killed it at the I.A. or been the best baker Mrs. Martin ever had. Izakaya Tanaka is great, but imagine doing something bigger.” He coasts a thumb over my cheek, and my heart leaps. “At least give it a try. Remember? I said I was going to make it worth the effort. I’m offering you the opportunity to grow.”

I shrug. “I have lots of great ideas? Maybe?”

His smile grows ten times larger.

I lean in. “And I’ll consider it only if you kiss me.”

He rushes to me, slips my legs over his, and takes a kiss like a thirsty man drinking water for the first time in weeks. I tilt my head and let it last as our lips do all the work. My body heats, wondering what will come next. But I don’t let the moment come too quickly. I hum, and it drives him to deepen the kiss. My hands clutch his back as he draws me to him. Oh yes, this is what’s been missing from my life.

We pull apart when two teenage girls giggle as they walk past us. I laugh and press my fingers to my lips.

“Do you think we’re making a scene?” I ask him. His right hand lingers on my face and reaches for my hair.

“Yes, but no one would dare tell me any differently.”

“You’re awfully confident,” I tease him.

“It comes with the territory.” He leans closer. “Come home with me.”

It’s hard to hide my smile when his eyes are so dark with lust. I want to. I really do, but…

“Listen here, Mr. Maeda. I am a professional woman with work obligations. And I’m expected at the izakaya in an hour.”

His smile is back. “I don’t want to be away from you.”

I clear my throat because my whole body is on fire. “You should come to Izakaya Tanaka tonight and eat with me during my breaks. Then you can take me home later. It’s about time I saw your place. Though honestly, it’s bound to make me jealous. I’m sure it’s palatial compared to mine.”

He tucks my hair behind my ear and laughs. “There’s so much I adore about you. You’re one of the few people who’s ever been honest with me.”

“Yeah, well, your wealth doesn’t intimidate me. It never has. I just never thought anyone like you could be interested in someone like me.” I close my eyes and rest my forehead against his cheek. He clutches me to him. “I’m still not sure why.”

He turns and kisses my temple. “Let me take the time to show you what I’ve already known for years.”

“I would love that.”